Friday, February 11, 2011

TheStar Provides a Soapbox for CANwea

TheStar Ontario wind energy advocates say they'll try harder to explain their projects to the public

Some counterpoints:
Whether or not “Europe” is turning away from wind energy, Germany's annual production hasn't changed much since 2006, and Denmark's since 2003. They do seem to manage to continue increasing capacity figures, which means capacity factors are dropping – as they are in Scotland and elsewhere now too.
Prices are not dropping, and the product is not getting more efficient. Economically, these are characteristics of a failed technology.
By nameplate capacity, wind is competitive with other new sources, but.. 22 years ago Ontario Hydro produced a report, “Providing the Balance of Power,” that called for steady growth, of 2.2% annually, in peak demand, to 2014, which would necessitate 39800MW of generation capacit.. Demand hasn't grown at all for the first 22 years, and yet we have grown capacity to 34500, with commitments already made for 1600MW more nuclear, 2000MW more wind, and 650MW more natural gas. It is because all new sources carry expense that other jurisdictions don't add them frivolously, instead taking action to clean up existing production capacity. The value of wind has little to do with the price of wind though, as the value is only the value of fuel not used when it is windy. Wind is not constructed instead of another production source, it is built in addition to another prodution source.
It is now well established, internationally, that there is no net benefit to a society of paying exhorbitant sums for a handful of jobs. Wolfe Island's revenues come from us – obviously there is no net benefit.
Not in The Star's article is the record of Hornung in arguing for short setbacks based on Ontario's traditional rural street grids – and specific lobbying against understanding the health issues involved with the location of IWTs. Which is what the lawsuit noted in the article is about.
CANWEA has no interest in engaging communities. Engaged communities are informed communities, and informed communities don't locate IWTs where they'll torpedo home values, and harm the neighbours..

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